Sports

The Vanuatu Cricket Association have been given recognition at the International Cricket Council with the nomination of VCA’s president, Mark Stafford, into the ICC Chief Executive Committee (CEC).The CEC comprises of chief executives from full members or test countries plus three elected representatives from the Associate members to represent the 93 additional member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC).Voting happens every two years and Associate members are given the opportunity to vote for their representatives in the CEC.This year the Associate member countries have voted in Mark Stafford who has contributed immensely to the growth of cricket not just in Vanuatu but in the Pacific as well and, two other candidates to carry the honor of representing the Associate Member countries in the ICC CEC.Stafford is not new to the ICC committees with his experience going as far back to 2002 where he was part of the ICC development committee and later on the chairman of … [Read more...] about Recognition for VCA

By Eleanor Gee Local Tongan outrigger canoe athlete, Malakai ‘Ahokava (36), is aiming to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in kayak sprints with two-time Olympian Pita Taufatofua, after having a taste of high level competition last month in Szeged, Hungary. The pair made their debut at the World Championships in the K2 (two man) 200m and 500m races, after training for only six days, which included the first few days paddling with their hands, a basic drill for beginners. Although new to the sport, Malakai told Matangi Tonga he believes they can qualify for the 2020 Olympics. “The journey we are on is one way. And we will keep going as far as we can.” While Pita had a little experience training in a kayak, Malakai had never been in a kayak until Hungary. And neither of them had ever been in a K2 kayak. Countries including Tonga taking part in the World Championships for the first time were given one week to train with kayak professionals … [Read more...] about ‘Ahokava aims to qualify for 2020 Olympics

Tänak, who drives for Toyota Gazoo Racing, and co-driver and fellow Estonian Martin Järveoja, had already been languishing in an unfamiliarly lo 8th place going into Saturday, after lacklustre Thursday and Friday stages at the challenging circuit in Marmaris, southwest Turkey.On Saturday, the pair had experience something of an improvement, at the expense of a competitor's bad fortune. Thierry Neuville, who is in second place overall in the WRC driver's table, rolled his Hyundai i20 in the opening stage of Saturday's first leg, BNS reports, promoting Tänak to seventh place.However, Tänak's Toyota Yaris, which already experienced a puncture on Friday, suffered an electrical failure en route to the start line of the second stage on Saturday, meaning under the regulations, he had to miss the rest of the day.Sunday's final stages are the only chance the Estonian, who has an over-30-point lead at the top of the WRC drivers' table, has to redeem himself at a race he won … [Read more...] about Tänak Turkey woes continue on Saturday

Rough surfaces, rocks and rain were some of the perils facing the field as they negotiated stages in Marmaris, on the Turkish Riviera, and Tänak was one of those to succumb to a puncture.Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja in the Toyota Yaris trail the surprise overnight leader, Esapekka Lappi (Finland, Citroën).Tänak was the first up on Friday's opening stage, a 24.8-km stretch at Içmeler, and while he ran faster than both of his title challengers, Sébastien Ogier (France, Citroën) and Thierry Neuville (Belgium, Hyundai).A return to the same route on the Saturday afternoon saw loose gravel cleared from the track leaving more resilient and angular rocks and stones, on which Neuvill and Ogier closed the gap on the Estonian.Overall, at the end of Thursday and Friday's stages, Tänak lies in 8th place at the race he won last year, behing Lappi, Ogier, Neuville, Teemu Suninen (Finland, Ford Fiesta), Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway, Hyundai), Dani … [Read more...] about Tänak still not on the form coming into Rally Turkey day three

Citroen driver Esapekka Lappi secured the top position with 1:59:53.7, to return to his garage as Friday's leader of Rally Turkey. "They were tricky and slippery stages. We managed it well. The car has been strong. Seventeen seconds is a lot in Finland, but one minute is not so much here!" said Lappi. Spanish pilot Dani Sordo stormed at SS7 (Ula 2) stage under wet conditions and gained two spots in the overall standings, benefiting from his medium compound tire choice. The championship challengers Sebastien Ogier closed the day as the second fastest, Thierry Neuville finished just behind in third , while the champion leader, Ott Tanak, slipped to eight . Like Ogier, Neuville kept his title hopes alive with a stage win and third overall. The rain started at Rally Turkey while drivers were running SS6. The Ula (SS7) stage experienced more rain after the afternoon restart and a heavy storm. "Very crazy," Lappi said after completing the SS6 in wet conditions. "First I think that it was … [Read more...] about Citroen’s Lappi ends Day 1 as leader of Rally Turkey